A sunny Kansas morning sets the stage for a behind-the-scenes look at Ryan Ellis and his team as they tackle the grind of a one-day NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend. From pre-race breakfast superstitions to balancing the role of both showman and driver, Ellis opens up about the unique challenges of being a small-team racer fighting in a field stacked with powerhouse organizations. What follows is part hustle, part humor, and a whole lot of honesty about the realities of racing at this level.
How much does breakfast actually influence race day results, and what’s Ellis’ current lucky meal?
Why does a football-themed paint scheme create more than just visual heat for the team?
What’s the struggle of competing without alliances, sim time, or big-team resources?
How does Ellis mentally reset between the public show of race day and the private grind of performance?
By the time the checkered flag falls, Ellis and DGM Racing leave Kansas with lessons, small victories, and the ongoing fight of measuring themselves budget-to-budget against the rest of the field. It’s a raw, unfiltered glimpse into what it takes to make the most of opportunities when the odds aren’t stacked in your favor, and why persistence remains the strongest tool in the box.
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